Adjustable reamer or roller assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustable roller assembly for use in the enlargement of a well bore, and on the inside of a collapsed casing or pipe to roll same out to its original diameter, and for the other uses wherein reaming or other enlargement is desired. The assembly is adjustable in the field by inexperienced personnel and with a minimum of time and manipulation for effecting the adjustment.

United States Patent Inventors Hubert H. Wagnon;

Robert A. Blair, both of Hobbs, N. Mex. 19,215

Mar. 13, 1970 Dec. 14, 1971 Drllprodco, inc.

Hobbs,- N. Mex.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ADJUSTABLE REAMER 0R ROLLER ASSEMBLY 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 175/342,

175/347 Int. Cl EZlb 9/24 Field of Search 175/320,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,404 3/1932 Abegg 175/342 3,054,466 9/1962 Wagnon et a1.. 175/342 X 1,988,023 1/1935 Spengler 175/347 X Primary Examiner- David H Brown AlrorneyPravel, Wilson & Matthews ABSTRACT: An adjustable roller assembly for use in the enlargement of a well bore, and on the inside of a collapsed casing or pipe to roll same out to its original diameter, and for the other uses wherein reaming or other enlargement is desired. The assembly is adjustable in the field by inexperienced personnel and with a minimum of time and manipulation for effecting the adjustment.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 Robert A un/(I & MaHLewA 14 TTOR NI: YS

ADJUSTABLE REAMER R ROLLER AfiSElLY BACKGROUND. OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is roller assemblies or reamers for reaming out or enlarging well bores or collapsed well casing or pipe.

ln U.S. Pat. No. 3,054,466, a roller assembly or reamer is disclosed which is adjustable to provide for mounting the rollers or reamer cutters at different positions on the body to provide the same or a greater external diameter even though the diameter of each roller or cutter has decreased due to wear. However, each adjustment for each roller or cutter required the removal of one or more iOCit screws and rods, the subsequent realignment of holes in each cutter and the body, and the reinsertion of the loclt screws and rods, all of which was time consuming and often confusing to an inexperienced field man using the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a roller assembly for reaming out or enlarging well bores or collapsed well casing or pipe, wherein a new and improved means is provided for obtaining an adjustment of the position of each roller or reamer cutter, which means is rugged, simple and easy to use by even inexperienced field personnel.

FIG. l is an elevation, partly in section, of the reamer or roller assembly of this invention, with one of the rollers and its supporting pins separated from the body of the assembly for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of one roller and the mounting therefor on the assembly of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating the roller of FIG. 2 in the extreme diameter position for maximum reaming or enlarging; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the reamer or roller of FIG. 2 in its maximum inward position for cutting or rolling the minimum external diameter with the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the reamer or roller assembly of this invention which includes a body B having releasably mounted thereon a plurality of reamer cutters or rollers R for reaming or enlarging a well bore or collapsed pipe. As will be explained in detail, each of the rollers R is adapted to be moved radially outwardly with respect to the body B by a change in the rotational position of a mounting pin P upon which each of the rollers R is supported. By reason such radial adjustment of each of the rollers R, the efi'ective life of each roller R is increased because even though its diameter is reduced by wear, it still is capable of cutting the same or even an increased diameter hole in a well bore.

Considering the invention more in detail, the body B is formed of steel or other similar material and it is preferably formed with a threaded pin at one end and a threaded box 11 at the other end so that the body B may be connected in a string of pipe for lowering and otherwise manipulating in a well bore or pipe.

In the preferred form of the invention, there are three reamer cutters or rollers R, and the body B is provided with a longitudinal recess T2 for each of such reamer cutters or rollers R. As will be explained more in detail, an upper pin mounting block 14 is secured at the upper end of each of the recesses 12, and a lower pin mounting block 16 is secured at the lower end of each of such recesses 112. A longitudinal slot 18 is formed in the body B above each recess 12, and each of such slots is is long enough to receive one of the pins P so that each of the pins P may be positioned above a longitudinal opening 20 in the upper pin mounting block Ml for subsequently lowering the pin P therethrough, as will be more full explained.

The roller R is formed with a longitudinal opening 22 and the body portion of each roller R may be formed in one or a plurality of sections. As illustrated in the drawings, each roller R is a single substantially cylindrical roller which has an external surface 23 which is preferably formed with tungsten carbide or other hard surfacing material to facilitate cutting action. However, the external surface 23 may be of any suitable shape other than cylindrical and it may have different surfacing materials thereon. For example, the rollers R may be tapered from a larger diameter at the upper portion to a smaller diameter at the lower portion in a manner similar to that illustrated in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,054,466, when the rollers R are used for expanding collapsed well casing or pipe.

Each of the pin P is formed with an intermediate pin section 24 which has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the longitudinal bore or opening 22 in each reamer R. Also, the length of the intermediate pin section 24 is substantially equal to the length of such opening 22 for each roller R so that the intermediate pin section 24 supports each of the rollers R for rotation with respect thereto, as will be more fully explained.

A lower pin section 26 is formed integrally with the intermediate pin section 24 and is disposed therebelow for positioning in an opening ll6ain the lower pin mounting block 16. In this connection, it should be noted that the size of the pin P compared with the mounting blocks 14 and 16, and their respective openings 16a and 20, has been exaggerated in FIG. 1 for the purposes of illustration, but the true relative sizes of such parts are illustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably both the intermediate pin section 2d and the lower pin section 26 are cylindrical. The diameter of the lower pin section 26 is smaller than the diameter of the intermediate pin section 24, and the longitudinal central axis of the lower pin section 26 is offset with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the intermediate pin section 24.

Each pin P also has an upper pin section 28 which has a plurality of external flat surfaces 28a, 28b,28d, 28c, and 28f. The number of such flat surfaces 28a-28f may be varied, but as illustrated in the drawings there are six of such surfaces, with a letter or numeral designation opposite each of such surfaces for indicating the position of the pin P and therefore the reamer cutter R therewith, with respect to the body I, as will be more evident hereinafter. The maximum width of the upper pin section 28 is greater than the outside diameter of the intermediate pin section 2d. The longitudinal central axis of the upper pin section 28 is longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the lower pin section 26.

A line extending through the midportion of the flat side surface 28a of the upper pin section 2% is coincidental with a longitudinal line on the external surface of the intermediate pin section M as seen in FIG. 2. Another portion of the intermediate pin section 24, from the longitudinal portion which is aligned with the midportion of the surface 28a, is disposed in alignment with a longitudinal portion of the external surface of the lower pin section 26 as also seen in FIG. 2. Such relative positioning of the surfaces of the sections 24, 26 and 28 of each pin 1? provides for the eccentric action in the mounting of each of the reamer cutters or rollers R so as to adjust each of the rollers R radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the body B to compensate for wear on the external surface 23 of each roller or reamer cutter R.

The upper pin mounting block 14 has the wall of its longitudinal opening 20 formed by a plurality of flat wall surfaces 20a through 20f, with a sidewall surface thus being provided for engagement with each of the side surfaces 28a through 28f on the upper pin section 28 of each pin 1?.

The mounting blocks M and 16 may be mounted on the body B in any suitable manner. In the form of the invention illustrated, the lower pin mounting block 16 is provided with flanges 16b which extend outwardly from the sidewalls 16c of the block M5. The width of the block 16 at its inner portion adjacent the flanges 16b is thus greater than its width at its outer portion between the side surfaces Mic. The width of the block 16b is less than the width of the recess 12 but greater than a reduced width slot 112a at the lower portion of the recess 12.

Longitudinal channels 12b are provided in the body B below the recess 12 and inwardly of the reduced width slot 12a for receiving the flanges 16b as the block 16 is moved downwardly from the recess 12 into the slot 12a. Preferably, the block 16 is forced or pressed downwardly so that it is securely held with the body B by reason of the press fit of the flanges 16b in the channels 12b. However, the block 16 may be subsequently removed if desired for replacement or repair.

Each of the upper mounting blocks 14 is mounted in a similar manner to the lower mounting blocks 16. Thus, at the upper end of each recess 12, a reduced width slot 120 is formed, and longitudinal channels 12d are also formed for receiving the block 14 and its retaining flanges 14a. The width of the block 14 at the flanges 14a is less than the width of the recess 12 so that it may be inserted into the recess 12 and then moved upwardly to force or press the flanges 14a into the channels I2d so that the block 14 for each recess 12 is likewise held securely on the body B, but is removable for replacement or repair purposes. It will be appreciated that each of the blocks 14 and 16 may be mounted on the body B by welding or other suitable'atfixing means.

To facilitate rotation of each of the reamer cutters or rollers R when in the mounted position on each pin P, it is desirable to have wear rings or bushings 30 and 31 disposed above and below the roller R as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, such bushings 30 and 31 may be omitted.

For retaining the pin P for each roller R in a selected rotational position of the pin P, any suitable means may be provided, one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a threaded retaining or locking pin 40 which has external threads 40a thereon which are adapted to be threadedly engaged in an internally threaded opening 41 which is formed in the body B in a position above the upper mounting block 14. Such pin 40 may be readily removed or inserted with respect to the threaded opening 41 by a screwdriver, wrench oreven by hand. When the pin 40 is removed from the opening 41, the pin P may be removed and inserted without requiring any tools, as will be more evident hereinafter.

It should be noted that for each side surface 28a through 28f the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24 is a different distance from each of the side surfaces, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, by looking at FIG. 4, it can be seen that in position "I" the side surface 28a is the maximum distance from the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24. In position 2" the distance from the flat surface 28b to the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24 is less than the distance from the surface 280 to the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24. For each of the subsequent positions 3" through 6" as viewed in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the distances from the flat surfaces 280 through 28f, respectively, to the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24 is progressively smaller. In fact, the surface 28] is substantially coincident with the external surface of the intermediate pin section 24. Thus, by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that when the upper pin section 28 is in position 1 (FIG. 4), the central longitudinal axis of the intermediate pin section 24 is as far inwardly with respect to the body B as it can possibly be positioned. 0n the otherhand, when the upper pin section 28 is in the position 6 (FIG. 3), the longitudinal central axis of the intermediate pin section 24 has moved radially outwardly as compaed to that shown in FIG. 4 so that the pin section 24 is as far radially outwardly as it can be positioned with respect to the body B. If the external diameter of the roller R is the same in both positions, it can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 that the roller R extends outwardly a greater distance from the body B in position 6 and in position 1. However, normally the pin section 28 is not put into the position 6 until the diameter of the roller or reamer cutter R has been reduced due to wear. Therefore, as the external diameter of the roller or reamer cutter R is reduced due to wear, the pin P may be moved to each of the successive positions 1 through 6 so as to progressively move the roller R radially outwardly to compensate for the progressive wear of thefextemal surface thereof. In this way, the reamer R may cut substantially the same size of hole even though it has worn in use, and in this manner, the life of each of the rollers or reamer cutters R is increased, usually by the number of the positions available for movement of the pin P, which in the present case is six.

In the operation or use of the assembly A of this invention, the mounting blocks 14 and 16 are mounted on the body B with respect to each recess 12. The reamer cutter or roller R is positioned in the recess 12 with its longitudinal opening 24 substantially aligned with the openings 16a and 20 of the blocks I6 and 14, respectively. The wear bushings or rings 30 and 31 are positioned above and below the roller R if they are used. The locking pin 40 is removed and then the pin P is positioned abovethe opening 20 of the upper mounting pin block 14. The slot 18 is at least as long as the pin P so that the entire pin P may fit partially into the slot 18 when it is being aligned with the opening 20. Since the pin sections 26 and 24 are both smallerthan the longitudinal opening 20, they drop readily therethrough and they also pass downwardly through the longitudinal opening 22 in the reamer cutter or roller R.

Initially, the pin P is rotated or positioned so that the position 1 appeas at the outside (FIG. 4) so that the roller R is in its extreme inward position with respect to the body B. With the flat surface 28a of the upper pin section 28 thus aligned with the flat wall surface 20a of the opening 20, the pin P is continued in its dropping or lowering so that the upper pin section 28 fits within the opening 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The lower pin section 26 likewise fits within the opening 16a. Because of the engagement of the flat surfaces 200 through 20f with 28f, the pin P is prevented from rotating with respect to the body B and the mounting block 14. The reamer cutter or roller R is, however, free to rotate on the pin P when the entire assembly A is rotated with the external surface of each of the rollers R in contact with the well bore or well pipe.

After the pin P has thus been positioned in position 1 (FIG. 4), the locking pin 40 is threaded into the threaded opening 41 (FIG. 2) to prevent the pin P from moving upwardly relative to the roller R during the use of the apparatus or assembly A.

When it is desired to change the position of the pin P, the locking pin 40 is removed and the pin P is moved upwardly by grasping it at its upper end, or by forcing it up at its lower end. The pin P does not have to be entirely removed for an adjustment, since it is only necessary to move it upwardly enough to move the upper pin section 28 out of the longitudinal opening 20 in the block 14. Normally, the pin P is rotated to each of the positions 2 through 6 as the external surface of the reamer cutter orroller R progressively wears to a smaller diameter so that substantially the same diameter is available for cutting action in each position of the pin P.

It will be evident that each of the reamer cutters or rollers R is separately adjustable with its respective pin P, in the same manner as described for the pin P illustrated in the drawings.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

I. An adjustable roller assembly for reaming or enlarging a well bore or collapsed pipe, comprising:

a body adapted to be lowered into a well bore or pipe;

a roller having a longitudinal opening therethrough and adapted to be mounted on said body for rotation relative thereto;

an upper pin-mounting block and a lower pin-mounting block mounted on said body in longitudinally spaced apart relationship fot'receiving said roller therebetween;

a pin having an upper pin section, an intermediate pin section and a loweipin section;

said intermediate pin section being of a length and diameter to fit into said longitudinal opening in said roller for rotation relative thereto;

said lower pin mounting block having a longitudinal opening therein for receiving said lower pin section;

said upper pin-mounting block having a longitudinal opening therethrough with a plurality of flat wall surfaces formed in the wall of said opening;

said upper pin section and said lower pin section having a coincident central axis which is laterally offset with respect to the central axis of said inten-nediate pin section; and

said upper pin section having a plurality of flat external side surfaces, each of which is adapted to engage one of said flat wall surfaces in said opening in said upper pin-mounting block for locking said pin to said body to prevent relative rotation therebetwecn.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said upper pin section is longitudinally movable relative to said upper pin-mounting block to a position in which said flat side surfaces on said upper pin section are out of engagement with said flat wall surfaces in the wall of said upper pin-mounting block for thereby permitting a rotation of said pin to align different ones of said flat side surfaces and said flat wall surfaces for the engagement thereof upon a repositioning of said upper pin section in said upper pin-mounting block.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including:

a releasable locking element mounted on said body for preventing said pin from moving longitudinally out of said upper pin-mounting block until said element is released, whereby said pin and roller thereon are held in each selected position until said locking element is released, said pin is moved longitudinally out of said upper block and is intentionally rotated to a new position.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the maximum width of said intermediate pin section and said lower pin section is each smaller than the minimum width of said longitudinal opening in said upper pinmounting block, whereby said pin is longitudinally movable completely through said longitudinal opening in said upper pin-mounting block for the from said body.

5. The structure set forth in claim ll, wherein: I

said upper pin section has one longitudinal portion of its external surface which is coincident with one longitudinal portion of said intermediate pin section; and I said lower pin section has one longitudinal portion which is coincident with another longitudinal portion of said intermediate pin section.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said one longitudinal portion of said upper pin section and said one longitudinal portion of said lower pin section are I from each other.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said one longitudinal portion of said upper pin section is formed by one of: aid flat side surfaces.

8. The structure set forth in claim ll, including:

at least two additional rollers adapted to be releasably mounted on said body and circumferentially spaced from each other;

an upper and a lower pin-mounting block mounted on said body for each of said rollers; and

an additional pin for each additional roller, each of which has an upper pin section, an intermediate pin section and a lower pin section.

9. The structure set forth in claim ill, wherein:

said body has a longitudinally extending recess for each of said rollers, with an upper pin-mounting block at the upper end thereof and a lower pin-mounting block at the lower end of each said recess, whereby each roller is mounted on said body with only a portion thereof exposed for the reaming or enlarging operation.

it). The structure set forth in claim ll, wherein:

said plurality of flat wall surfaces of said opening in said upper pin-mounting block, and said plurality of side surfaces on said upper pin section are six in number, with each flat surface providing a different position for said roller.

removal of said pin l si l l l 

1. An adjustable roller assembly for reaming or enlarging a well bore or collapsed pipe, comprising: a body adapted to be lowered into a well bore or pipe; a roller having a longitudinal opening therethrough and adapted to be mounted on said body for rotation relative thereto; an upper pin-mounting block and a lower pin-mounting block mounted on said body in longitudinally spaced apart relationship for receiving said roller therebetween; a pin having an upper pin section, an intermediate pin section and a lower pin section; said intermediate pin section being of a length and diameter to fit into said longitudinal opening in said roller for rotation relative thereto; said lower pin mounting block having a longitudinal opening therein for receiving said lower pin section; said upper pin-mounting block having a longitudinal opening therethrough with a plurality of flat wall surfaces formed in the wall of said opening; said upper pin section and said lower pin section having a coincident central axis which is laterally offset with respect to the central axis of said intermediate pin section; and said upper pin section having a plurality of flat external side surfaces, each of which is adapted to engage one of said flat wall surfaces in said opening in said upper pin-mounting block for locking said pin to said body to prevent relative rotation therebetween.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said upper pin section is longitudinally movable relative to said upper pin-mounting block to a position in which said flat side surfaces on said upper pin section are out of engagement with said flat wall surfaces in the wall of said upper pin-mounting block for thereby permitting a rotation of said pin to align different ones of said flat side surfaces and said flat wall surfaces for the engagement thereof upon a repositioning of said upper pin section in said upper pin-mounting block.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including: a releasable locking element mounted on said body for preventing said pin from moving longitudinally out of said upper pin-mounting block until said element is released, whereby said pin and roller thereon are held in each selected position until said locking element is released, said pin is moved longitudinally out of said upper block and is intentionally rotated to a new position.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: the maximum width of said intermediate pin section and said lower pin section is each smaller than the minimum width of said longitudinal opening in said upper pin-mounting block, whereby said pin is longitudinally movable completely through said longitudinal opening in said upper pin-mounting block for the removal of said pin from said body.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said upper pin section has one longitudinal portion of its external surface which is coincident with one longitudinal portion of said intermediate pin section; and said lower pin section has one longitudinal portion which is coincident with another longitudinal portion of said intermediate pin section.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein: said one longitudinal portion of said upper pin section and said one longitudinal portion of said lower pin section are 180* from each other.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein: said one longitudinal portion of said upper pin section is formed by one of said flat side surfaces.
 8. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: at least two additional rollers adapted to be releasably mounted on said body and circumferentially spaced from each other; an upper and a lower pin-mounting block mounted on said body for each of said rollers; and an additional pin for each additional roller, each of which has an upper pin section, an intermediate pin section and a lower pin section.
 9. The structure set forth in claim 8, wherein: said body has a longitudinally extending recess for each of said rollers, with an upper pin-mounting block at the upper end thereof and a lower pin-mounting block at the lower end of each said recess, whereby each roller is mounted on said body with only a portion thereof exposed for the reaming or enlarging operation.
 10. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said plurality of flat wall surfaces of said opening in said upper pin-mounting block, and said plurality of side surfaces on said upper pin section are six in number, with each flat surface providing a different position for said roller. 